Lifting-jack handle and tire-lug wrench



July 23, 1929. w. H. WALKER LIFTING JACK HANDLE AND TIRE LUG WRENGKK Filed May 25, 1928 Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STTS WARREN H. WALKER, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO WALKER MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF EACINE, WISCONS IN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSEN.

LIFTING-JACK HANDLE AND TIRE-LUG WRENCH.

Application filed May 25,

This-invention relates, to a rotatable lifting jack handle, formed of detachable sections, one section being in the form of a tire-lug wrench.

The general object of the invention is to provide a single tool, as briefly described hereinabove and as described in more detail here inafter, which is capable of performing the functions of both a lifting jack handle and a tire-lug wrench.

Another object is to provide a combination tool adapted to decrease the initial cost, the number of parts and the weight to be carried, in automobile equipment.

Another object is toprovide an improved extension shaft adapted to be used in combination with a tire-lug wrench as a revoluble handle for a lifting jack.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of certain approved forms of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the assembled device in use as a jack-handle.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the assembled dcvicedetached from the jack, the connection between the two sections of the device being shown in central longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the detached crank portion of the device.

Fig. 4: is an elevation of this crank portion of the device in use as a tire-lug wrench, a portion of a tire, rim and wheel being shown in transverse section. I

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the extension shaft member, shown folded or collapsed for convenience in storage.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section. on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 66,

scale, taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Fig 2. o

Fig. 10 is an elevation of a simplified form of extension rod,

7 lar purposes. 1

1928. Serial No. 280,554.

The jack-handle'is formed of two detachable portions, one of which is in the form of a crank Wrench quite similar to the ordinary tire-lug wrenches nowin use.

This portion of the device may be formed of a continuous metal bar or rod, usually round in cross section, bent to form an operating shaft portion 1, a crank portion'2, anda handle portion 3 substantially parallel'with the shaft 1 but offset laterallytherefrom by means of crank 2. At the free end of shaft 1 is secured an enlarged head 1 in which is formed a socket-5 adapted to fit one of the nuts, usuallyhexagonal, which hold in place the lugs 6 for securing-the rim 8 of tire 9 on a wheel, partially indicated at 10. The other free end 7 of this detachable wrench portion of the handle may be given any suitable form as indicated for example in the drawings, so that it may be used as a tool in removing a tire from a run, a run from a wheel or other simi- A typical lifting jack of the rotatable screw type is indicated in Fig. 1, comprising a standard 11 and lifting screws 12, which are elevated or lowered by the driving gear or nut 13 driven by the beveled gear 1 1 011 the I inner end of sub-shaft 15, which is the rotatable driving shaft of the ack. This jack is merely here shown by way of example, and this improved handle could be used with any lifting jack which is actuated by a rotatable or oscillatable handle. The outer end of driving shaft 15 is usually formed with a noncircular socket in which the end of the operating shaft or handle is non-rotatably engaged. Preferably, one or more recesses are formed in the sides of this socket to be engaged by the spring-detents 16 hereinafter described.

When used as a liftingjack handle, an ex tension rod is provided adapted to form a continuation of the shaft 1 of the wrench, so that when the jack is located in operating poand handle 3 will extend out to an accessible position beyond the body of the machine. This extension member may be simply a continuous straight rod or bar 17, as shown in Fig. 10, conveniently'made of round bar material, although the end portions must be noncircular to fit the sockets in the wrench member and driving shaft 15 of the jack respectively. One end of rod 17 is formed with an enlarged head 18, usually having the enter sition beneath the axle of a car, the crank 2 form of one of the hexagonal nuts used to secure the the lugs 6 in place. This head 18 will fit securely but detachably within the socket in the head 4 of the wrench member. The other end 20 of rod 17 is shaped to fit the socket in driving shaft of the jack, the head and socket ordinarily having a square cross section. Preferably the end edges of head 20 are beveled as indicated at 21 to facilitate the insertion of the head within the socket. A ball detent 16 is mounted loosely in a recess 22 formed in the head 20, and is urged outwardly by a spring 23 to a partially projecting position in which it is held by the inturned walls 24 surrounding the entrance to recess 22. While one detent 16 might be used, usually a pair of these de'tents are, urged in opposite directions by the same spring 23 confined therebetween, as indicated in Fig. 8. Vhen the head 20 is forced into the socket in shaft 15, the balls 16 will be forced into recess 22 against the resistance of spring 23 and will subsequently snap out into the recesses pro vided within the socket, as hereinabove described.

Instead of using a single continuous extension rod 17 as shown in Fig.10, it is preferable as illustrated inFigs 1, 2, 5 and 6, to divide this rod into two similar portions 25 and 26, the adjacent ends of which are pivoted at 27 and 28 respectively within a clamp member 29. This clamp member has its end portions-crimped inwardly at 30 and 31 so as to holdthe sections 25 and 26 in alignment when extended to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. However, the crimped portions '31 will yield so that the members 25 and 26 may be folded into substantially parallel relation, as indicated in Fig. 5, so that the device may be more conveniently stored within the confines of a tool box. Obviously, other means for either pivotally or detachably oining the sections of this extensionrod might be used in place or the example here-shown. The head 18 is formed upon the free end of the member 25, and the head 20 is formed on the free end of the member 26.

It is to be understood that instead of the head 20, a socketed or forked end portion,

or any other equivalent non-circu'lar form might be given to the end of rod 26, in accordance with the shape of the end of shaft '15 of the jack which is to be engaged. Also any other form, of yieldable detent device might be substituted for the spring-pressed balls 16 here disclosed.

Itwill be evident from Figs. 3 and 5 that when the sections of this handle are detached and collapsed they are of convenient size for storage in the tool box'ot the car. When only the tire-lug wrench is required, the extension rod portion need not be used at all. There is a considerable saving in initial cost since one crank port-ion serves both as the tire-lug "rench and as the crank portion of the jack handle, and there is also a material economy in storage space and dead weight to be carried in the car. The construction is so simple that a user having no mechanical skill will readily note the intended combination of the parts. For automobile tool boxes already supplied with a tire-lug wrench, it.

is merely necessary to furnish the extension bar in order to complete the combination tool and provide a suitable rotatable crank handle for operating the lifting ack.

I claim:

1. A device for manipulating a jack having a revoluble operating member comprising in combination a tire-lug wrench consisting of a crank fOIlTlGtl with a socket having a hexagonol portion to fit tire lug nuts and with an angularly disposed handle, and

an extension bar separate from the wrench formed at oneend with a head to fit nonrotatably into said socket and at the other end with an element formed for non-rotatable engagement with the revoluble member, of the jack. 7 2. a revoluble operating member comprising in combination a tire-lug wrench consisting of a crank formed with a socket having a hexagonal portion to fit tire lug nuts and with an angularly disposed handle, and an extension bar separate from the wrench formed at one end with a head to fit non-rotatably into said socket and at the other end with an element formed for non rotatable engagement with the revoluble member of the ack, said extension comprising a pair of bar sections, and a clamping device for hingedly connecting the sections and for holding same in alignment with one another.

A device for manipulating a jack having. 

